A new nonablative laser device, Smoothbeam, has been under evaluation for nonablative wrinkle reduction in skin with minimal side effects. This device incorporates a laser at 1450-nm wavelength to heat the dermis and cryogen spray cooling to prevent epidermal damage. The thermal injury created is internal and imperceptible. The wound-healing response to this internal injury causes improvement in the appearance of skin wrinkles. Biopsies taken immediately after treatment showed mild residual thermal damage (RTD) at a depth range of 150 to 400 microm, which is the dermal zone where most solar elastosis resides. Biopsies from two months after treatment showed fibroplasia extending over a range of depths similar to the acute RTD zones. An improvement in wrinkle severity was noted on the treated side compared with the control side.

Background and Objective Laser therapy with a 1,450 nm diode laser is a clinically effective treatment for acne vulgaris, although the mechanism of action is unknown. To investigate this, we conducted a small, prospective, controlled clinical trial to assess this laser's effects on the facial sebum excretion rate (SER). Materials and Methods Fourteen healthy volunteers without active acne were enrolled in this study and received three laser treatments on test areas of the nose and forehead. Nine subjects completed the treatment regimen and were available for follow‐up. SER was measured with Sebumeter® prior to the first treatment, and at 1 week and 1 month after the third treatment. Photographs were taken and subjective assessment of skin oiliness and pore size determined by questionnaires at 1 month follow‐up. Results No significant reduction in SER was observed comparing treated with control on all treatment sites (P>0.05) on the nose. Reduction in the absolute SER was observed for both test and control sites on the forehead, reaching significance on the treatment site (P = 0.04) and marginal significance on the control site (P = 0.08). Conclusion While our study was designed to detect only large changes in SER, we conclude that three 1,450 nm laser treatment sessions did not cause marked changes in SER compared to the control (i.e., >44%). Thus, major destruction of sebaceous glands as a result of this treatment is unlikely. However, reduced sebum production was observed on both treatment and control sides at 1 month. Therefore alternative mechanisms should also be considered to explain the clinical efficacy of this treatment for acne vulgaris. Lasers Surg. Med. 41:110–115, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.